Embroidering-machine



H. SAURER.

EMBRO IDERING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED AUGJ, 191a.

.11 ,323,9 9, v Patented Jan. 27, 1920.

' 3 SHEETSSHEET I. 54 9 .H. SAURER. EMBROIDERING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED AUG-711318.

" 1,328,969; v Patented Jan. 27,1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- INVENTOI? UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HIPIOLY'I SAURER, 0F ARIBON, SWITZERLAND.

EMBROIDERING-MACHINE.

Application filed. August 7, 1918.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HIPPOLYT SAURER, a citizen of the Republic of Switzerland, residing in Arbon, Switzerland, have invented certain new. and useful Improvements in Embroidering-Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

This invention relates particularly to hand controlled embroidering machines of that type in which the movement of the pointer or stylus over the pattern is transmitted to the fabric frame through a pantograph and in which the throwing in or out of operation of one or another of the special devices or mechanisms, such as the needle mechanism, the boring mechanism, the punching mechanism, etc., is accomplished by the operator. In the art the term special mechanism is applied to devices of the character specified and the like, to embrace, generically, all such devices or mechanisms as are employed to perform special functions or operations apart from the elements. constituting the general mechanism of the cmbroidering machine as a whole. The object of the invention is to provide means whereby the throwing in or out of one or another of such special mechanisms shall be accomplished by power devices, the operation of which is initiated selectively by the operator, and whereby the throwing into operation of 'one such mechanism and the throwing out of operation of another such mechanism is effected by a single operating mechanism under the selective control of the operator. Other objects of the invention and the manner in which they are attained will appear hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which the invention is illustrated, and in which Figure 1 is a view in front elevation in which is shown so much of a pantograph embroidering machine as is necessary to enable the application of the invention thereto to be understood.

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are partial views showing, in different positions, parts of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a partial view illustrating an embodiment slightly difierent from that shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a detail view of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 5.

Specification of Letters Patent.

need not be shown in detail.

Patented Jan. 27, 1920.

Serial No. 243,704.

The frame 1 of the embroidering machine supports in usual manner the pantograph 2 which is connected at 3, as usual, to the fabric frame 4:. The latter supports the fabric to be embroidered and is moved in front of the needles and other special devices through the pantograph 2 in accordance with the movements of the stylus or pointer, effected by the operator through the handle 31, over the pattern secured on the pattern board 5. The latter is movable vertically to accommodate the change from one set of devices, to another, as from the needles to the borers, by mechanism of usual character, which is sufficiently indicated by the crank 6.

For the purpose of explaining the char acter of the invention, it is sufficient to describe its application to two only of the special devices or mechanisms which are commonly used on an embroidering machine. In the embodiment of the invention which has been chosen for illustration herein, the two mechanisms or special devices thus selected for explanation of the character of the invention are the stitching mechanism and the boring mechanism. So far as the needles themselves and the borers themselves are concerned, it will be understood that they are arranged to operate as usual and It will be sufficient to show a portion of the mechanism through which the needles receive their reciprocating movements and a portion of the mechanism through which the borers receive their reciprocating move ments. Both of such mechanisms may be of usual construction and are so indicated in the drawings. The shafts 7 and 7 are the usual oscillating shafts by which the borers are actuated and the shafts 8 and 8 are the usual oscillating shafts by which the needles are actuated. The shafts 7 7 are operated together by a rod 9 which carries at its lower end a roller '11 mounted on a spindle 42 and adapted to be moved into and out of operative engagement with the grooved bearing cam 1% fixed on the main shaft 13 of the machine. In like manner the needle shafts, 8, 8 are operated together through a rod. 10 which carries at its lower end a roller 12, mounted on a spindle 44 and adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with the grooved needle cam 15 which is also mounted on the mai shaft 13.

On a shaft or spindle 16, suitably supported in the frame of the machine, is loosely mounted a gear 18, indicated by a dotted line, which is in mesh with a pinion 17, also indicated by a dotted line, to be referred to again hereinafter. Fixed to the gear 18 is a ratchet wheel 19. Also loosely mounted on the shaft or spindle 16 is a pawl carrying lever 20, pulled normally in one direction by a spring 26, its pawl 25 being adapted to engage the ratchet wheel 19. An actuator 21, also mounted loosely on the shaft or spindle 16, is connected by a pitman 23 with a crank arm 22 of the shaft 13,so that during the operation of the machine the actuator 21 is constantly oscillated. The actuator 21 is adapted to oscillate the pawl carrying lever 20 through a bell crank lever or dog 2 1, which is pivotally mounted on the lever 20 and, when released, swings by its own weight into operative relation with the actuator 21. Normally the dog 21 is held out of operative relation with the actuator 21 by a latch 28 which may be operatively connected, by wires 29 and bell crank 30, mounted on the pantograph, with a trip lever 32 conveniently mounted on the handle 31 of the pantograph, which trip lever 32 can be made to operate the wires 29 in any convenient manner. As indicated in Fig. 1, for example, the end of the wire 29 might be attached directly to the hub of the lever 32, pivoted on the handle 39, so that any angular movement of the lever 32 on its pivot will exert a sufficient pull on the wire to lift the latch 28.

The gear 18, which is rotated, at the will of the operator, by the means described, must have a definite step-by-step movement, in order that it may impart, at each operation, a definite movement to the pinion 17. To insure accurate movement of the gear 18 it may be provided with eogui-distant pins 33 for cooperation with a roller 36 carried by a bell crank lever 35, the roller being pressed toward the axis of the gear by a spring 3% conne'ted to one an i of the bell crank lever. It will be observed that as the actuator 21 is driven from the main shaft 13, the entire actuating mechanism, through which the coupling and uncoupling of the stitching mechanism to or from the main shaft is effected, will be operated in synchronism with the cams 11 and 15 on the main shaft and further that the operation of the actuating mechanism is initiated by the operator through the disengagement of the latch 28 from the dog 24.

The actuating mechanism already described effects the coupling or the uncoupling to or from its operating cam of one or another of the special me hanisms under the control of a selecting device hereinafter des"ribed. On a sritable bracket fixed to the frame of the machine is pivotally mounted a lever 37 which is notched in its upper end for engagement with the selecting device hereinafter described and is slotted at its lower end, as at 38, for engagement with a pin d1 carried by the spindle 42, on the end of which is mounted the roller 11 for cooperation with the cam 14c. A second lever 39, also pivoted on a bracket secured to the frame and notched at its upper end for cooperation with the selecting device, is slotted, as at -10, for engagement with a pin 4-3 of the spindle a1 which carries the roller 12 for cooperation with the cam 15. A lever 45, pivoted on the lever 37, is connected at one end by a link %6 with the lever 39 and is connected at the other end by a link 17 with a crank 48 carried by the pinion 17. For each step of forward rotation of the gear 18, produced by the cooperation of the pawl 25 with the ratchet wheel 19, the pinion 17 receives a half rotation. 1f the lever 37 be held from movement at this time, the half rotation of the crank 4-8, acting through the link 47, the lever 15 and link 46, produces a movement of the lever 39 on its pivot in one direction or the other. Similarly, if the lever 39 be held from movement, the half rotation of the crank 1-8 will pro duce, through the link 47 and the lever 45, a movement of the lever 37 in one direction or the other. The movement of the lever 39 will couple or uncouple, according to the direction of movement, the stitching mechanism through its roller 12, to or from the stitching cam 15, while the movement of the lever 37, a cording to the direction of movement, will couple or uncouple the boring mechanism, through its roller 11, to or from the boring cam 1%.

The selecting device, by which it is determined which of the two levers 37, 39 shall be held from movement so as to atford a fixed fulcrum on which the lever may have a movement to effect operation of the other two levers, is shown as a threearsu lever 1-9, pivot-ed on a fixed part of the frame and having in two horizontal arms adapted to engage. respectively, vith the notched upper ends of the levers 3'7 and 39. This selecting device may be operated by hand or from some moving part of the ma chine. In the embodiment of the invention illust 'ated, in which the shifting from stitching to boring, or from boring to stitch ing, is accompanied by a vertical movement of the pattern board 5, advantage is taken of such necessary vertical movement of the pattern board to effect the selection automatically and without the attention of the operator. For this purpose, the vertically n'ovable pattern board has secured to it a slotted cam which is engaged opezatirely by a pin 51 at the upper end a lever 51. The latter is pivoted on a fixed part of the frame and is connected by a rod 50 with the third arm of the three-armed lever 49, so that if the pattern board is moved upwardly from the position shown in Fig. 1, the upper end of the lever 51 is thrown to the right and the three-armed lever 19 is shifted from the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 to the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Similarly,

if the pattern board is moved down from its highest position the three-armed lever will be shifted from the position shown in Figs. 3 and e to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Assuming that, with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 1 in which the operation of stitching has been carried on, the operation of stitching is to be discontinued and the operation of boring is to be commenced, the operator, through the trip 32 on the handle 31 of the pant-ograph, will lift the lath 28 and release the dog 24, whereupon the dog, overbalanced by its horizontal arm, will tilt on its pivot until the end of its horizontal arm stands in the path of the actuator 21. In its forward movement, the actuator 21, engaging the dog 24, will cause a forward oscillation of the lever 20 through one step and this movement of the lever 20, through coiiperation of the pawl 25 with the ratchet wheel 19, will produce a forward rotation of the gear 18 through one step and a half rotation of the pinion 17 from the position shOWn in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2. Since the lever 37 is at this time held by the selector 19, the lever 37 furnishes a fixed fulcrum for the lever 45 and the lever 45 is therefore swung from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2 and, through the link 16, the lever 39 is swung from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. This movement of the lever 39 draws the roller 12 from the groove of the cam 15 and thereby the stitching operation is discontinued. Preparatory to the beginning' of the boring operation, the pattern bot rd 5 is raised by the operator and this movement of the pattern board, as already described, shifts the selector 19 from the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 to the position shown in Fig. 3, in which its right hand arm engages the notched upper end of the lever 39 and holds it from movement, whereby the link 16 furnishes a substantially fixed fulcrum for the lower end of the lever 45.

In the forward movement of th lever 29, already referred to, the upper end of the dog 24 rides under the end of the latch 28 and lifts it so that the dog is again engaged by the latch and its horizontal arm is held out of the path of movement of the actuator 21. The backward movement of the arm 20 is limited by a fixed stop 27. The actuating mechanism is therefore preparcl automatically for the initiation, by the operator, of another movement.

The parts being in-the position shown in Fig. 3, as already described the operator, through the trip 32, again lifts the latch 28 and thereby initiates another operation of the actuating mechanism, whereby the crank 48 receives a. half rotation from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in F ig. 4. As the lever 39 and link 46 at this time furnish a substantially fixed fulcrum for the lever 45 and the lever 37 is free to move, this half rotation of the crank 48 shifts the lever 37 from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 4 and couples the boring mechanism to the boring cam through the engagement of the roller 11 with the groove of the cam.

When the operation of boring has been completed the boring mechanism is uncoupled from its cam by the actuating mechanism, the movement of which is initiated by the operator, the pattern board is lowered, the selecting device is shifted so as to hold the lever 37 from movement, the operation of the actuating mechanism is again initiated by the operator, and the stitching mechanism is coupled to its cam.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 is substantially the same as that already described except for a slightly different form of mechanical device for shifting the lever 45 and thereby effecting the coupling and uncoupling of the spe cial mechanisms to or from their respective cams. In this instance, a notched disk 53 is fixed on the shaft 13 and a bevel pinion 5t, carrying an arm 55, is mounted loosely on the shaft. A dog 56, acted upon by a spring 62, is pivoted on the arm 55 and has its vertical arm adapted to co-act with a latch or stop 57 which, as before, may be controlled by the operator through the trip 32, the levers 29 and the bell cranks 30. The bevel gear 54: meshes with a bevel gear 59 on a shaft 58 which is mounted in suitable bearings in the frame and is provided with a crank 60. The latter is operatively connected by a link 61 with the lever t5, hereinbefore described. In order to initiate the movement of this actuating mechanism, the operator lifts the latch 57 thereby permitting the dog 56, which is carried by the bevel pinion 54, to engage the notch disk 53. Thereby the pinion 5% is made to rotate with the shaft 13 and the bevel gear 59 and crank 60 therefore receive a half rotation for each complete rotation of the shaft 13. Except as just described, the operation of the mechanism is the same as previously described.

It will be observed that the following advantages in the operation of the embroidering machine result from the application of this invention: Increased efficiency of the embroidering machine by reason of the quickness with which the shifting from one special operation to another is effected; the relieving of the operator from all effort in effecting the shifting, all that is required of the operator being initiation of the operation of the actuating mechanism; the certainty of the coupling or uncoupling at the proper instant with respect to the positions of the operating cams, this being elfected automatically and at the proper instant through the synchronizing of the dilferent parts of the mechanism; and the locking of each of the coupling devices while the other is in operation.

It will be obvious that various changes in details of construction and arrangement may be made to suit different conditions of use and that the invention, except as pointed out in the accompanying claims, is not lirnited to the particular construction and arrangement shown and described herein.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an embroidering machine, the combination of an operating device for a special mechanism, a movable coupling between said device and said mechanism, a ratchet wheel and intermediate connections therefrom to shift said coupling, a pawl-carrying lever for cooperation with said ratchet wheel, an oscillating actuator and means under the control of the operator to effect operative engagement between said actuator and said pawl-carrying lever.

2. In an en'ibroidering machine, the combination of an operating device for a special mechanism, a movable coupling between said device and said mechanism, a ratchet wheel and intermediate connections therefrom to shift said coupling, a pawl-carrying lever for cooperation with said ratchet wheel, an oscillating actuator, a dog pivotally mounted on the lever and adapted to effect operative engagement between the actuator and the lever, and means under the control of the operator to hold the dog out of operative relation with the actuator.

3. In an embroidering machine, the combination of an operating device for a special mechanism, a movable coupling between said device and said mechanism, a crank and intermediate connections to shift said coupling, a a pinion carried with the crank, a gear wheel in mesh with the pinion, a ratchet wheel mounted to rotate with the gear wheel, a pawl-carrying lever mounted concentrically with the ratchet wheel, an oscillating actuator mounted concentrically with the ratchet wheel, a dog pivotally mounted on the lever and adapted to effect operative engagement between the actuator and the lever, and means under the control of the operator to hold the dog out of operative relation with the actuator.

4:. In an embroidering machine, the combination of an operating device for a spe cial mechanism, a main shaft, a cam on the main shaft, a movable coupling between said cam and said operating device, means to shift said coupling, an actuating mechanism to operate said means including a ratchet wheel, an oscillating actuator for said actuating mechanism, and means under the control of the operator to efiect operative engagement between said actuator and said ratchet wheel.

5. I11 an embroidering machine, the combination of an operating device for a special mechanism, a main shaft, a cam on the main shaft, a movable coupling between said cam and said operating device, means to shift said coupling, an actuating mechanism to operate said means, comprising a ratchet wheel and a pawl-carrying lever, an oscillating actuator for said actuating mechanism, and means under the control of the operator to eli'ect operative engagement between said actuator and said pawl-carrying lever.

6. In an embroidering machine, the combination of a plurality of operating elements for a plurality of special mechanisms, a plurality of couplings between said elements and said mechanisms respectively, a plurality of devices to shift said couplings respectively, means to actuate said devices and a selecting device to determine the operative movement of one or another of said shifting devices.

7. In an embroidering machine, the combination of a plurality of operating elements for a plurality of special mechanisms, a plurality of couplings between said elements and said mechanisms respectively, a plurality of levers to shift said couplings respectively, means to actuate said levers respectively and a selecting device to determine the operative movement of one or another of said levers.

8. In an embroidering machine, the combination of a plurality of operating elements for a plurality of special mechanisms, a plurality of couplings between said elements and said mechanisms respectively, a plurality of levers engaged with said couplings, means to actuate said levers and a selecting device to engage one or another of said levers to hold it from operative movement.

9. In an embroidering machine, the combination of a plurality of operating elements for a plurality of special mechanisms, a plurality of couplings between said elements and said mechanisms respectively, a plurality of levers engaged with said couplings, said levers being pivoted on fixed fulcra, an operating lever fulcrumed on one of said levers and connected with the other of said levers, means to actuate said operating lever, and means to hold one or the other of said first named levers from operative movement.

10. In an embroidering machine, the combination of a plurality of operating elements for a plurality of special mechanisms, a plurality of couplings between said elements and said mechanisms respectively, a plurality of levers engaged with said couplings, said levers being pivoted 0n fixed tulcra, an operating lever fulcrumed on one of said levers and connected with the other of said levers, means to actuate said operating lever and a selecting 'de- -vice adapted to be moved into engagement with one or the other of said first named levers to hold it from operative movement.

11. In an embroidering machine, the combination of a plurality of operating elements for a plurality of special mechanisms, a plurality of couplings between said elements and said mechanisms respectively, a plurality of devices to shift said couplings respectively, actuating mechanism for said devices and means under the control of the operator to initiate the operation of said actuating mechanism.

12. In an embroidering machine, the combination of a plurality of operating elements for a plurality of special mechanisms, a plurality of couplings between said elements and said mechanisms respectively, a plurality of devices to shift said couplings respectively, actuating mechanism for said devices and a common selecting device to hold one of said shifting devices out of 0peration while permitting operation of the other of said devices.

13. In an embroidering machine, the combination of a plurality of operating elements for a plurality of special mechanisms, a plurality of couplings between said elements and said mechanisms respectively, a plurality of devices to shift said couplings respectively, actuating mechanism for said devices, a common selecting device to hold one of said shifting devices out of operation while permitting operation of the other of said devices and operating connections from a moving part of the machine to said selecting device.

14. In an embroidering machine, thecombination of a plurality of operating elements for a plurality of special mechanisms, a plurality of couplings between said elements and said mechanisms respectively, a plurality of devices to shift said couplings respectively, actuating mechanism for sa1d devices, a common selecting device to hold one of said shifting devices out of operation while permitting operation of the other'said devices, a movable pattern board and operating connections from said pattern board to said selecting device.

This specification signed this third day of July A. D. 1918.

HIPPOLYT SAURER. 

